According to Alzheimer's Disease International, as of 2010, there were an estimated 35.6 million people with dementia worldwide. This number will nearly double every 20 years, to an estimated 65.7 million in 2030, and 115.4 million in 2050.

Alzheimer’s: What is Alzheimer's disease?

Contrary to popular belief, Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of ageing. Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, in other words the disease eventually leads to the death of neurons.

Our brain works by sending signals. This work is carried out by chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters. These allow the brain cells to communicate with each other. In a patient with Alzheimer's disease these neurotransmitters are less in number. An Alzheimer's patient also develops deposits of protein and fibre in the brain that restrict proper functioning. As a result, brain cells cannot send the right signals to the other parts of the brain and ultimately brain cells shrink and die.

Alzheimer’s: What is Alzheimer's disease?

Medical research had indicated that the beginning of brain's organic damage precedes the occurrence of evident symptoms by at least 10 years.

This is the pre-clinical phase where brain damage has already begun but the individual is symptom free. This phase is followed by the Mild Cognitive Impairment phase where the person might appear to be more 'absent minded' than before; following this is the Dementia phase, which in itself has 7 stages.

Alzheimer’s: What happens in Alzheimer's disease?

A person with Alzheimer's has several cognitive disabilities:

• the person maybe repetitive with their questions/statements indicating compromised short term memory

• the person may have regressed to a different age or may keep alternating between present and past

• the person may be unable to perform activities requisite for daily living

• the person may be unable to express himself due to compromised language capacities

• all executive functions such as logical reasoning, abstract thinking, judgement are affected at the very beginning

• towards the later stages, the person becomes child-like and usually requires assistance with even their hygiene routine.

Alzheimer’s: Is there a cure for Alzheimer's disease?

Unfortunately, there is no 'cure' for Alzheimer's disease. Current approaches are focused on helping slow the neurological decline and achieve a plateau.

Alzheimer’s: Caring for People with Alzheimer's disease

If your grandparents are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, it is imperative that you extend care that is more than medicinal. While medication certainly aid in slowing the decline, human-touch and other aids go a long way too. In most cases, the person diagnosed with Alzheimer's doesn't have insight of what is happening to them, it is therefore important to attend to their symptoms with concern and a non-judgemental attitude.

Alzheimer’s: Caring Tips for Alzheimer's disease patients

Reading your grandfather's favourite poetry out to him or flipping through old family albums can be a good jog for his memory.

That said, do not overdo the cognitive maintenance part by making your grandfather do endless mathematical exercises and crossword puzzles as this might just stress him out. While it is important to provide some stimulation for the brain, one must be careful that the stimulation provided is in no way stressful!

Alzheimer’s: Caring Tips for Alzheimer's disease patients

Even simple activities like listening to music from their younger years or reading the newspaper on a daily basis make a lot of difference. It is important to stimulate all senses, so feel free to play a game where your grandfather is blindfolded and is trying to guess objects by merely feeling them with his hands.

Alzheimers: Caring Tips for Alzheimer's disease patients

In some cases, the person may still have some insight while in the early stages – the person may be confused about what is happening to them. The constant need to seek help from others for their daily needs might cause some frustration/depression in them. It is important to make them feel accepted and loved.

According to Alzheimer's Disease International, as of 2010, there were an estimated 35.6 million people with dementia worldwide. This number will nearly double every 20 years, to an estimated 65.7 million in 2030, and 115.4 million in 2050.